Greene Family Gab

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

2009-01-16T17:30:00.001-08:00

Did this picture get your attention?! Yes, they were in the dryer... that was years ago when I had no sense (with a husband always at the hospital), and I desperately needed entertainment for my almost 1 and 2 year old.
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I actually am posting, to give an update to those of you wondering why I have not added pictures to my blog in forever and a day. Right after Christmas, our computer went "flop". Luckily, (thanks to Uncle Lynn) all our pictures from the past 6 years were saved right before we lost everything permanently. For example, the picture above would have been lost forever! I could almost cry thinking about losing all those memories! We recently were informed that the "mother board" in our computer died. I don't really know what that means, but it never sounds good when somebody's mother dies. We are using a computer on loan right now (again, thanks to Uncle Lynn). The computer on loan is great, but I have just had to ease off my computer usage and downloading recent pictures until we get a new one. My blogging will hopefully get on track soon.

The moral of the story is that you REALLY need to have your computer "stuff" backed up on an external hard drive. You never know. Our computer was only 2 years old and was from a reputable company.

Keep checking in for an updated post in the next week or two...in the mean time, here are two more pics just for fun...my goodness...how fast things change...they grow up WAY TOO FAST!

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth!

2008-12-11T17:05:00.001-08:00

Jackson lost his second tooth tonight. Last time the tooth fairy left $1 and Nana and Papaw matched it. As Jackson says, "I am going to be rich!"

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

2008-12-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

We actually got a few snow flurries Saturday afternoon! Jackson and Mackenzie loved catching the flakes with their tongue, but were disappointed that there was not enough to make a snowman. Jonathan started feeling sorry for the birds, and added some seed to our bird feeder.

Mackenzie's First Trophy!!!

2008-12-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

Mackenzie had a Gymnastics Skill Meet on Saturday. She had fun showing off her talents. She had worked on a floor routine that she performed all by herself. Aunt Mandy even stopped by to see her in action! Thanks, Aunt Mandy! At the end of meet, she received a great trophy with her name on it. She was soooo proud of it.

Another Field Trip

2008-12-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

Jackson's class went the see The Nutcracker Ballet this past Friday. It was a wonderful performance. I had 3 boys in my group (including Jackson) and they did really well- considering they were 6 year old boys watching ballet. :0)

Our neighbor, Madelyn, sat behind us. She looked very pretty in her Christmas colors.

Jackson lost his first tooth!!!

2008-12-04T19:21:00.001-08:00

Jackson finally lost his first tooth. He was unbelievably excited. I had been saving a tooth pillow in my drawer for over a year and couldn't wait to show it to him. It says "TOOTHLESS WONDER". You hide the tooth in the shield. I saw it in a shop and knew that my little super hero fan had to have it. We are hoping the tooth fairy remembers to come tonight.

Jackson told us at dinner that there is no way the Tooth Fairy could know that he lost a tooth because only God knows everything. We had to agree that he was exactly right and confirmed that only God knows everything. He thought for a moment and continued on by saying that "...maybe the Tooth Fairy is actually an angel and God tells her up in heaven when a kid loses a tooth. They probably just call her the Tooth Fairy because Tooth Angel sounds weird." Sounds logical to me. :-)

Family Game Night

2008-12-04T19:11:00.000-08:00

My babies are growing up, and that makes me very sad. But older is a good thing, too! Jackson and Mackenzie are finally at the age where we can have honest to goodness game nights at our house. Jonathan and I both love to play games, but rarely get the chance like we did early on in our marriage. A few nights ago we all played charades... it was hilarious. A couple of nights later we decided to play UNO. We had played it before with Jackson and Mackenzie pairing up with Jonathan and me. That night, however, we let them try it on their own. We all four played each other and I was amazed that they totally understood the rules and played perfectly. Mackenzie won! Fair and square! She was so proud when she yelled out, "UNO!" Jackson came in second place, so basically Jonathan and I got stomped by our kids!

I decided we were ready for Cranium- The Family Edition. It is for 8 years and up, but I thought we could try it. It was soooo fun! They loved it. We played it 3 nights in a row. I highly recommend it. I snapped a picture while we were playing.

The Cookie Company...Again

2008-12-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

Mackenzie's preschool class took their annual trip to the Great American Cookie Company. Including the time I went with Jackson, I think I have toured the Cookie Company 4 times now. Mackenzie enjoyed it just like it was her first time. Especially since her best friend Baylor was with her. They got to see how the cookies are baked and decorated. Then they all decorated their own cookie. As usual, she saved her cookie for her big brother (its always chocolate chip and she doesn't like chocolate- crazy isn't?!) Afterward we walked down the mall and talked to Santa.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

2008-12-04T18:53:00.001-08:00

Nana and Papaw came over to our house on Thanksgiving weekend. While Jonathan and Papaw watched football, the rest of us made homemade ornaments. Jackson and Mackenzie loved it and really did a great job. We made lots and lots, but they are displaying some of their favorites. They look great on our tree.

Counting My Blessings

2008-12-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

We recently had our annual Webb Family picture. In keeping with tradition, Nana bought all the grandchildren matching outfits.

Each year that we do this, I am reminded of what a blessing my family truly is. Mom and Dad taught all three of their daughters to honor Christ in their lives and left a legacy that I want to model. I feel so blessed to be so close to both of my sisters and their husbands. We truly are all such great friends and love to spend time together. We all have a bond that only Christ could give. I pray that Jackson and Mackenzie will get to experience the same kind of closeness as they grow into adulthood.

Webb Family Thanksgiving

2008-12-04T17:35:00.000-08:00

For The Webb Family Thanksgiving this year, we all met at the farm in Greenback. Nana prepared tons of food and we all had a great time. We were surprised when we pulled up and saw that Nana and Papaw had surprised the grandchildren with a 4-wheeler just their size. Everyone (except for Colton of course) enjoyed having a turn.

Greene Family Thanksgiving

2008-11-17T13:20:00.001-08:00

Jonathan's side of the family had Thanksgiving early this year. Everyone got together at Dee Dee and Papa's house in Walling, Tn. We had lots of fun and lots of good food. Jackson and Harrison (the oldest cousin) enjoyed riding on the 4-wheeler, while Mackenzie enjoyed babysitting Eva (the youngest cousin). They even took some time out for raking the leaves. In keeping with tradition, we took the annual picture of Papa (Jonathan's dad) with all 5 grandchildren.

Jackson (age 6), Harrison (age 13), Hensley (age 6), Eva (5 months), and Mackenzie (age 5)

Playdate with the Cooper's

2008-11-13T19:16:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Election Day, Jackson and Mackenzie had a two day vacation from school. On one of those days, we went to hang out with Aunt Robyn, Carson, and Cameron. They had a great time playing outside on a beautiful Fall day.

Kung Fu Cutie!

2008-11-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

Jackson has found his calling! He recently started taking karate. Oh my goodness, he LOVES it! It is totally adorable watching him at practice. He is in the 6 and 7 year old class called the Tigers. As you can see from the pictures, he takes it VERY seriously.

Happy Birthday, Papaw!

2008-11-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

My dad turned 64 the end of October. To celebrate, we all had a bonfire down at the farm in Greenback. As usual, things were full of excitement with all 6 grandkids in attendance. Especially when Nana provides S'mores AND birthday cake!!! (By the way, the current ages of the grandchildren are 6 yrs. , 5 yrs. , 4 yrs. , 3 yrs. , 2 yrs. , and 1 yr.)

Trunks and Treats

2008-11-13T15:17:00.000-08:00

Each year our church, First Baptist Alcoa, hosts "Trunks and Treats" as an alternative to Trick or Treating. Our Sunday School class decorated our "trunk" using the theme of the movie Greece. We had fun performing the hand jive for a captive audience. Jackson and Mackenzie even got in on the act. They impressed us all with their hula hoop skills.

Pumpkin Carving

2008-11-13T15:07:00.000-08:00

Jackson and Mackenzie enjoyed carving their pumpkins this year. Mackenzie still thought the insides were "icky" and didn't really want to put her hand inside for long. Jackson made a scary face and Mackenzie made a happy face.

Easy Bake Oven

2008-10-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

For Mackenzie's 5th Birthday, she got an Easy Bake Oven from her Aunt Mandy. We decided to make some sugar cookies on Saturday. To be honest, they were not exactly delicious, but they sure were fun to make! Next time we are going to try a cake. I am sure it will be soooo tasty. :-)

Who Dresses These Kids?!

2008-10-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

I chose an outfit for Jackson and Mackenzie this Saturday morning. But they each decided to add a few accessories before going outside to play. I am sure the neighbors all got a laugh.

Maple Lane Farms Field Trip

2008-10-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Stepping Stones Preschool had a field trip to Maple Lane Farms yesterday. We had great weather for a hay ride to pick out the perfect pumpkin! I love watching Mackenzie interact with her friends from school. What a fun day!

Foothills Fall Festival

2008-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

The kids had a great time at the Fall Festival this year. They were hilarious riding the mechanical bull. I think our favorite thing was watching the dog show... it was really impressive!

Fun, Fun, Fun on the Farm

2008-10-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

Over Fall Break, we took a day and went down to visit Nana and Papaw in Greenback. Jackson and Mackenzie are working on cleaning out the old calf barn for a club house. After lunch we went down by the creek. Jackson relaxed on the rocks and Mackenzie found a caterpiller that she named "Ted". Nana, Papaw, Jack and Mack even played a game of hide and seek. Shhhh!

Go Rebels!

2008-10-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

We took the family to our first Rebels game of the season. It was a perfect night for it- the crowds were a little down due to Fall Break and the weather was wonderful. Jackson and Mackenzie really enjoyed the concession stand and the band. They even bumped into a few of their friends. Notice the sign Mackenzie is standing beside... she is a true REBEL.

Happy Birthday, Mackenzie!

2008-10-01T12:47:00.001-07:00

Mackenzie turned 5 years old yesterday! To celebrate she invited nine of her friends to The Big Splat in Maryville for a party. For those of you that are out of town, the Big Splat is a kids "art studio". We had so much fun making lots of fun art projects, dancing, and playing games. The theme was chosen by the birthday girl... Littlest Pet Shop. A great time was had by all!

Mommy's Little Helper

2008-09-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

Mackenzie and I planted some Pansies this morning in the front flower beds. She was actually a very big help. She loved every minute of it. As we planted, she decided to name several of the flowers. We have a "Sarah" and lots of them named "Big Bertha" (I have no idea where that came from). As we were planting, it occurred to me that this is my last year with my little girl at home. She starts Kindergarten next year! It gives me a lump in my throat thinking about it. Sometimes I wish I could freeze my babies and keep them little forever. But Jonathan says that I say that at every age. I guess I enjoy it all! I am so blessed.

Golf Anyone?

2008-09-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

Fall is here! This afternoon we took advantage of the ABSOLUTELY PERFECT weather and took a family outing to the golf course. Jonathan did most of the playing, but we all got in a few shots. Jackson loves to drive the cart and wash all the golf balls. Mackenzie even practiced her cartwheels on all the open space. I got a golf lesson as an excuse to cuddle with my hubby in public. So much fun... we are definitely planning to do it again soon.

Under Construction

2008-09-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

My sister, Mandy, and her husband, Chris, are building a house in our neighborhood! Jackson and Mackenzie are so excited that their Aunt, Uncle, and cousins are moving right around the corner. We can watch all the construction from our front window. Tonight we took a bike ride in the neighborhood and stopped by to get a close look at the progress. Jackson brought some of his tools to do some work and speed things along. He and Mackenzie had a blast hammering, sawing, and measuring everything in sight. Note to Uncle Chris... you can expect a bill some time next week.

Our Cades Cove Trip (Better Late than Never)

2008-09-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

I just remembered that I forgot to post this fun day! A couple of weeks ago, we took the family to the mountains. Jackson and Mackenzie had lots of fun wading in the river after our picnic. They especially loved watching their mommy almost slip and fall in the water every time she took a step! What can I say...my flip flops were slippery.

Afterward, we decided to go around the Cades Cove Loop. They thought it was so much fun. They kept yelling out, "I think I just saw some wildlife!" It was cracking us up. I have never seen them get so excited about seeing a squirrel or bird. Actually, we saw one deer and even a sleeping bear! (We were given the tip about the bear...sure enough, we stopped on the road and saw it a few yards away in the woods.) Jonathan and I vowed to take advantage of the mountains more often.

Dinner with the Coopers

2008-09-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

We had a spontaneous Labor Day Weekend dinner with our cousins Carson and Cameron. The hot dogs and brownies were yummy... thank you Uncle Lynn and Aunt Robyn!

The boys had a great time wrestling around in the living room. (Mackenzie just played referee and cheered them on!) Afterward, they went outside and jumped on the trampoline with Uncle Lynn and Jonathan. Good times!

Friends from Indiana

2008-09-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

We had a good visit last week with some old friends who drove in all the way from Indiana. Jeff and Jaqui Huxford made the trip down with their two little ones, Jayce (2 years)and Jenna (14 months). Jonathan and Jeff were in residency together when we lived in Bristol. The kids played together really well, and it was fun to catch up. It just went by way too fast...now it is our turn to make the long trip to the Hoosier State!

Guinea Pigs and Giggles

2008-08-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

Mackenzie had her first day of Pre-Kindergarten this week at Stepping Stones Preschool. She was so excited and giggly when she woke up that morning. Her teachers were very sweet and enthusiastic. Many of her friends from her class last year are in her room. Not to mention, her best friend Baylor. There are 8 girls and 8 boys. Best of all, the class has a pet guinea pig named Frosty!

The class pet came at a perfect time. Just days before school began, Mackenzie told me she wanted a pet. When I asked what kind of pet, she thought for a minute and replied, "A dog, a cat, or a chipmunk." What?! Hopefully the guinea pig will be a suitable rodent substitute for the chipmunk. Enjoy the snapshots I took as we walked into school. She kept asking me to take her picture at every turn... and of course she had to pose with Frosty.
Such a cutie pie!

Can You Watch the Boys?

2008-08-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

I got a call this morning from my sister Mandy saying she was on her way to my house and wanted to know if I could watch her boys while she took care of some unexpected business with their builder. (FYI... for those of you that don't know, Mandy is building a house in my neighborhood.) Of course I was totally excited to see my sweet nephews- I told her I would meet her in the driveway. Hutton and Colton were still in their cute PJ's! I didn't tell Mackenzie they were coming. As she was calmly eating her breakfast, I just creeped in the door holding Colton while Hutton followed behind. Needless to say, she lit up when she saw them. Hutton said (in his typical country twang), "Hey Kenzie, I'm here!" Being the good babysitter that she is, she sprang into action. I spent a lot of time explaining to Mackenzie that Colton did not need to be carried or held in her lap. She definitely does not let him out of her sight. As usual, Hutton enjoyed Jackson's cars and excavator and Colton went after every ball in sight. I hope we get to do a lot more babysitting while Mandy and Chris are building their house!

My Little Entrepreneurs

2008-08-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jackson and Mackenzie decided to make a "drink stand" in the front yard. (They were planning on a lemonade stand, but Mommy only had Kool-aid.) Jackson made the sign and Mackenzie and I made the Kool-aid. Their original idea was to charge $1 a cup, but luckily I talked them down to 25 cents a cup. After setting up our stand, I prepared them not expect that many customers... it wasn't exactly rush hour in the neighborhood at 4:00 p.m.. BOY WAS I WRONG! We even had to make a second pitcher! Every single person that drove by stopped to buy a drink... even the UPS driver...and then the neighbors started coming out of their houses. Jackson took care of managing the stand and Mackenzie stood on the side of the road in her sunglasses and dimples attracting the customers. They must have soaked in an episode or two of The Apprentice when they watched it with us as babies. In total they made $5.50! For those of you that don't want to do the math, they sold 22 cups of Kool-aid!!! I loved watching their excitement. And of course the teacher in me couldn't pass up a few lessons in how to count money and give change. ;) I have attached a few cute pictures... I love the hand holding a "wad of cash" on the sign Jackson made! Is this how Donald Trump got started?

Jonathan's Half Day Off

2008-08-08T05:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jonathan had his half day off. We went to Knoxville to get Jackson some new tennis shoes. We got LACE UP shoes (he learned how to tie his shoes last week)!

After our short shopping trip, we met up with Robyn and Lynn at their church. Robyn is going to be the lead teacher for the 4 year olds and she wanted some help with a bulletin board. While we worked, our husbands and kids played tug of war in the classroom. Needless to say, it was a little crazy... I don't know if that room has ever seen that much excitement.

Afterward, we took Jackson and Mackenzie to Olive Garden for dinner. Yum!!!

Open House

2008-08-06T07:27:00.001-07:00

Last night we had Open House at Sam Houston Elementary. Jackson loved showing off his classroom to his little sister. To the left is a picture of Jackson's new teacher, Mrs. Welch. She bragged on Jackson and remembered Jonathan also being a good boy many years ago (Jonathan had her as a teacher about 27 years ago!). The room was very cheery and organized. I can tell it is going to be another good year.

The picture I posted of the "paper boy" was a Self Portrait made by Jackson especially for Open House...I was impressed...such a good artist... he must take after his Dee Dee.

My Big First Grader!

2008-08-05T05:57:00.001-07:00

Jackson started first grade yesterday! Wow... how time flies. He had a great first day and likes his teacher- Mrs. Welch. Believe it or not, she was Jonathan and Jordan's Kindergarten teacher many moons ago. Jackson was such a big boy marching in the room and said he wasn't nervous at all. In his words, "I'm not nervous mommy... I was nervous in Kindergarten, but now I just can't wait to meet all my new friends." Luckily some of his "old friends" were in the class... like our neighbor Madelyn and buddy Chad.

Mackenzie and I had some girl time after we dropped Jackson off and went to eat breakfast with my mom (Nana).

I Gave in to the Peer Pressure!

2008-08-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

Yes... I admit it... I gave into peer pressure and joined the blogger community. I thought friends and family far and wide might get a kick out of it. I know I LOVE reading about everyone else's cute families.